The seven cyclo-cross races where Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel will meet this season
The duo will continue their long-standing rivalry this winter


The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
For over a decade, Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel have locked horns in cyclo-cross races across Europe. The duo first met in the under-19 ranks, and have battled in one of the sport’s biggest rivalries ever since.
On Monday, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider announced his winter program for the 2022-2023 season, which will see him compete in 14 cyclo-cross races - seven of which he’ll share with Van Aert.
Their first encounter will come in Antwerp on 4 December, one week after Van der Poel makes his season debut at this Sunday’s World Cup event in Hulst.
The pair will then join their respective road teams for their winter training camps, before returning to the mud for an intense festive period.
From 23 December, Van der Poel and Van Aert will compete against each other five times in the space of a week. Both riders share an identical program for this period, with race participations expected in Mol, Gavere, Heusden-Zolder, Diegem and Loenhout.
Although Jumbo-Visma are yet to release Van Aert’s programme for 2023, it is almost certain that the Belgian champion will line up against the Dutchman at the World Championships in Hoogerheide, Netherlands on 5 February.
Wout van Aert and Mathieu van der Poel on the podium of the 2012 Junior Cyclo-cross World Championships.
The duo, who share seven world titles between them, met just twice on last season’s cyclo-cross circuit, after Van der Poel withdrew from racing with a back injury.
Both riders have taken the start line together in 169 races since the start of their careers. Comparing their head-to-head results, the Dutchman prevails with the stronger record, having bettered his long-term rival on 115 occasions (68%).
After beginning his cyclo-cross season this past weekend, world champion Tom Pidcock will also no doubt join Van Aert and Van der Poel in a series of races this season. Cycling Weekly understands that Pidcock’s full programme will develop on a week-by-week basis over the coming months, with the British rider likely to take part in between 10 and 12 cyclo-cross races this winter.
Although the final tally could be higher, below are the seven races that Van Aert and Van der Poel will both contest this season.
Date | Race |
---|---|
4 December 2022 | Antwerp (World Cup) |
23 December 2022 | Mol (Exact Cross) |
26 December 2022 | Gavere (World Cup) |
27 December 2022 | Heusden-Zolder (Superprestige) |
28 December 2022 | Diegem (Superprestige) |
30 December 2022 | Loenhout (Exact Cross) |
5 February 2023 | Hoogerheide (World Championships) |
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Tom joined Cycling Weekly as a news and features writer in the summer of 2022, having previously contributed as a freelancer. He is the host of The TT Podcast, which covers both the men's and women's pelotons and has featured a number of prominent British riders.
An enthusiastic cyclist himself, Tom likes it most when the road goes uphill and actively seeks out double-figure gradients on his rides.
He's also fluent in French and Spanish and holds a master's degree in International Journalism.
-
-
Stefan Küng suffers concussion and broken hand in dramatic European Championships TT crash
Groupama-FDJ's Swiss rider forced to end season as a result of injuries
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tech Question: We're used to racers on narrow bars - but are they more comfortable, too?
We ask the experts what to look for in determining the optimal handlebar width
By Joe Baker Published
-
Wout van Aert 'forced to fight' for second Tour of Britain victory
‘I had to stay calm’ says the Belgian after Carlos Rodriguez piles on the pressure on tough final stage in Caerphilly
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert wins Tour of Britain by three seconds as Carlos Rodríguez solos to stage eight victory
Jumbo-Visma rider repeats 2021 success to win the race for a second time
By Tom Davidson Published
-
‘It will be a matter of legs’ - Wout van Aert in confident mindset ahead of Tour of Britain finale
Belgian says attack was the best form of defence for Jumbo-Visma after race explodes in Gloucestershire
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It was a crazy plan’ - Wout van Aert on his stunning solo Tour of Britain stage win
Belgian superstar says it’s now ‘up to the others’ to attack him as Jumbo-Visma rider takes over race lead
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘You need to have the legs’ - Olav Kooij continues Tour of Britain dominance with third successive stage win
Dutchman completes hat trick of Jumbo-Visma victories ahead of Danny van Poppel and Great Britain’s Ethan Vernon
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Olav Kooij powers to another victory on stage two of Tour of Britain
Dutchman makes it two in two for Jumbo-Visma in Wrexham
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Wout van Aert wins his first ever gravel race by nine minutes
It doesn't matter what the bike is, the Belgian can do absolutely anything he wants
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
‘I knew I was the favourite’ - Lotte Kopecky delivers on World Championships pressure to win rainbow jersey
The Belgian powered away from her rivals to land road world title in the streets of Glasgow
By Tom Thewlis Published